Forging a National Consciousness through Mutual Respect, 29 Sep 2008

Playing the Enemy is a very timely book. In these days when nations are often more divided than before, Nelson Mandela's instinct to show respect, friendliness, and common purpose with those who saw him as an enemy is a beacon that lights up the potential for all people to come together to accomplish more. John Carlin has used the Rugby World Cup imaginatively to illustrate the essence of President Mandela's approach. Mr. Carlin is a wonderful story teller, and you'll feel chills as you read the many great moments he brilliantly captures in Playing the Enemy.

Leaders have always used foreign enemies to bring their purpose together. Who realized that this could be done at the level of sport rather than through war as a way to unify a country where people were deeply suspicious (even paranoid) about one another?

I was glad to see that Mr. Carlin provided lots of background about how someone imprisoned for decades became the leader of a reconstituted nation in South Africa and went on to accomplish things that not even the most optimistic would have expected. President Mandela's story is one for the ages, and this way of telling the story makes it easier to understand for those who never saw South Africa during the Apartheid regime.

Although I had long studied and worked to help change the government in South Africa from the inside and outside, the political impact of the international boycott of the South African rugby team had been lost to me. I hope those who would like to encourage governments to behave more appropriately towards their people will remember this example.

Bravo, Mr. Carlin!

Forging a National Consciousness through Mutual Respect, 29 Sep 2008

Playing the Enemy is a very timely book. In these days when nations are often more divided than before, Nelson Mandela's instinct to show respect, friendliness, and common purpose with those who saw him as an enemy is a beacon that lights up the potential for all people to come together to accomplish more. John Carlin has used the Rugby World Cup imaginatively to illustrate the essence of President Mandela's approach. Mr. Carlin is a wonderful story teller, and you'll feel chills as you read the many great moments he brilliantly captures in Playing the Enemy.

Leaders have always used foreign enemies to bring their purpose together. Who realized that this could be done at the level of sport rather than through war as a way to unify a country where people were deeply suspicious (even paranoid) about one another?

I was glad to see that Mr. Carlin provided lots of background about how someone imprisoned for decades became the leader of a reconstituted nation in South Africa and went on to accomplish things that not even the most optimistic would have expected. President Mandela's story is one for the ages, and this way of telling the story makes it easier to understand for those who never saw South Africa during the Apartheid regime.

Although I had long studied and worked to help change the government in South Africa from the inside and outside, the political impact of the international boycott of the South African rugby team had been lost to me. I hope those who would like to encourage governments to behave more appropriately towards their people will remember this example.

Bravo, Mr. Carlin!

Ok but holds back...., 26 Aug 2008
I remember the 2003 World Cup campaign well and Lawrence Dallaglio was one of the English heroes who played a big part in it. He was (proudly) the only player to have played every minute of every match - although there were reasons for this!

I enjoy biographies and have read several of sporting legends (Ali, Armstrong...er Tony Cascarino) but none has been that exceptional. Sadly, this is the case here too as while it has its moments, it quite workman-like although generally readable.

He came from a secure and loving family and is at pains to point this out. His parents were very supportive and they worked hard to give him the best education they could afford. He admits he did not give them a good return on their investment and cruised through school, only excelling on the rugby pitch. He tells us about the tragic loss of his sister in the Marchioness and the devastating effect it had on him then, and to this day. His mother's long and brave fight for a full public enquiry is an eye-opener in the face of indolence and opposition from the authorities, though Dallaglio admits he played little part in this.

His arrival at and career with his beloved Wasps club side is well documented. You have to admire the man for staying at the club he adored although there do not appear to have been many offers from other clubs! Sometimes, it can be a bit of a mates backslapping tome, as he tells of his love of a "pint and a yarn" with his friends but he seems to have made no enemies whatsoever on the way. If he did, he didn't tell us.....

I was also a bit disappointed in the way the News of the World "drug dealer" scandal was glossed over, Dallaglio blaming the drink entirely. As one NOTW lawyer said, being drunk does not give you an in-depth knowledge of the drugs world. If he had addressed specific allegations made in the papers, his explanations would have had more credibility. It cost him the England captaincy but he is one of those players who just wanted to play for the white shirt at all costs, and you get the impression he really meant that.

There are interesting passages on his relationship with Clive Woodward, an extremely clever and talented coach. It was a rocky ride at times but the mutual respect was there. Johnny Wilkinson comes across as a shy character who doesn't enjoy the limelight (shouldn't be such a good goal kicker then should he!)

Club fans will enjoy the accounts of battles against Leicester and the Toulose etc, whilst international fans will enjoy the World Cup and Lions accounts equally as much.

A good read for the England and Wasps rugby fan though it could have been better had the surface been scratched a bit deeper.








Disappointing, 02 Mar 2008
I am a bit amazed by some of the other reviews of this book. I am a big rugby fan and having been given this for Christmas 2007 was looking forward to insightful read of a insiders view of the 2003 rugby build up and how he really found it breaking into the senior game from the junior ranks. It reads like someone desperately trying to remember some of the past and also some of the really big games are brushed over in 1-2 pages if that. the News of the World incident receives many pages more other important events in his life, which quite frankly I would rather read about. All in all disappointing.

Unfinished Business, 06 Feb 2008
I think that Lawrence at 35 is perhaps too young to be writing My life and as an old fart myself that still applies.This is my first experience of reading a Sport autobiography so i can't compare as with some other reviewers. I do find the criticism of not opening up entirely to be valid-I am not sure that he is keener to redress imbalances than say it "entirely as it is" as he says. I read it in record time seeing the BIG PRINT as my friend. The potentially overwhelming issue around his sister's death is very well dealt with.It is the small incidents recalled that make that.
I came away from the book thinking that perhaps Lawrence felt that he still had unfinished business and was holding back for a later book?
Regardless of that a great fast read.

In The Blood, 20 Jan 2008
This monologue of Dallaglio's career is enjoyable and gives you an insight into the world of professional rugby - from Dallaglio's perspective.

Sometimes moving and written in a conversational style (as if you were talking to the man in a bar), this is an easy book to pick up.

Recommended.



Interesting in places, but too often its very dull., 16 Jan 2008
First of all I have huge admiration for Lawrence Dallaglio and truly believe he is one of the best players to have worn the England shirt. His achievements in club and international rugby cannot be matched by many other players. To that end, I was really looking forward to this book but I have to disagree with most of the reviews on here because I found it to be pretty dull.

For a man who has spent most of his adult life playing rugby there were too few off field stories which stuck in your mind. There was far too much emphasis on individual games on what happened on the pitch. A lot of the time it felt as though I was reading a match report which would have appeared in any newspaper around the time of each game.

The chapter on his sister's tragic death is moving and you get a real sense of the shock that was felt by his whole family.

Overall though, this book was very disappointing. I have read numerous sporting autobiographies and usually at the end you feel as if you know the person a bit better. Apart from the chapter about his sister's death and how he was set up by The Sun newspaper, there was not a lot that hadn't been reported elsewhere, just not in his own words. Sadly at the end I felt he had skimmed the surface and could have offered so much more. Even behind scenes at the 2007 world cup has been well documented and Dallaglio adds nothing new here.

Another problem with the book is that it is painfully obvious that it was not written by Dallaglio himself. Hearing him speak he is very intelligent and articulate but this rarely comes across on the page.

If you want a truly in depth and fascinating autobiography then buy Martin Johnson's instead.

Forging a National Consciousness through Mutual Respect, 29 Sep 2008

Playing the Enemy is a very timely book. In these days when nations are often more divided than before, Nelson Mandela's instinct to show respect, friendliness, and common purpose with those who saw him as an enemy is a beacon that lights up the potential for all people to come together to accomplish more. John Carlin has used the Rugby World Cup imaginatively to illustrate the essence of President Mandela's approach. Mr. Carlin is a wonderful story teller, and you'll feel chills as you read the many great moments he brilliantly captures in Playing the Enemy.

Leaders have always used foreign enemies to bring their purpose together. Who realized that this could be done at the level of sport rather than through war as a way to unify a country where people were deeply suspicious (even paranoid) about one another?

I was glad to see that Mr. Carlin provided lots of background about how someone imprisoned for decades became the leader of a reconstituted nation in South Africa and went on to accomplish things that not even the most optimistic would have expected. President Mandela's story is one for the ages, and this way of telling the story makes it easier to understand for those who never saw South Africa during the Apartheid regime.

Although I had long studied and worked to help change the government in South Africa from the inside and outside, the political impact of the international boycott of the South African rugby team had been lost to me. I hope those who would like to encourage governments to behave more appropriately towards their people will remember this example.

Bravo, Mr. Carlin!

Ok but holds back...., 26 Aug 2008
I remember the 2003 World Cup campaign well and Lawrence Dallaglio was one of the English heroes who played a big part in it. He was (proudly) the only player to have played every minute of every match - although there were reasons for this!

I enjoy biographies and have read several of sporting legends (Ali, Armstrong...er Tony Cascarino) but none has been that exceptional. Sadly, this is the case here too as while it has its moments, it quite workman-like although generally readable.

He came from a secure and loving family and is at pains to point this out. His parents were very supportive and they worked hard to give him the best education they could afford. He admits he did not give them a good return on their investment and cruised through school, only excelling on the rugby pitch. He tells us about the tragic loss of his sister in the Marchioness and the devastating effect it had on him then, and to this day. His mother's long and brave fight for a full public enquiry is an eye-opener in the face of indolence and opposition from the authorities, though Dallaglio admits he played little part in this.

His arrival at and career with his beloved Wasps club side is well documented. You have to admire the man for staying at the club he adored although there do not appear to have been many offers from other clubs! Sometimes, it can be a bit of a mates backslapping tome, as he tells of his love of a "pint and a yarn" with his friends but he seems to have made no enemies whatsoever on the way. If he did, he didn't tell us.....

I was also a bit disappointed in the way the News of the World "drug dealer" scandal was glossed over, Dallaglio blaming the drink entirely. As one NOTW lawyer said, being drunk does not give you an in-depth knowledge of the drugs world. If he had addressed specific allegations made in the papers, his explanations would have had more credibility. It cost him the England captaincy but he is one of those players who just wanted to play for the white shirt at all costs, and you get the impression he really meant that.

There are interesting passages on his relationship with Clive Woodward, an extremely clever and talented coach. It was a rocky ride at times but the mutual respect was there. Johnny Wilkinson comes across as a shy character who doesn't enjoy the limelight (shouldn't be such a good goal kicker then should he!)

Club fans will enjoy the accounts of battles against Leicester and the Toulose etc, whilst international fans will enjoy the World Cup and Lions accounts equally as much.

A good read for the England and Wasps rugby fan though it could have been better had the surface been scratched a bit deeper.








Disappointing, 02 Mar 2008
I am a bit amazed by some of the other reviews of this book. I am a big rugby fan and having been given this for Christmas 2007 was looking forward to insightful read of a insiders view of the 2003 rugby build up and how he really found it breaking into the senior game from the junior ranks. It reads like someone desperately trying to remember some of the past and also some of the really big games are brushed over in 1-2 pages if that. the News of the World incident receives many pages more other important events in his life, which quite frankly I would rather read about. All in all disappointing.

Unfinished Business, 06 Feb 2008
I think that Lawrence at 35 is perhaps too young to be writing My life and as an old fart myself that still applies.This is my first experience of reading a Sport autobiography so i can't compare as with some other reviewers. I do find the criticism of not opening up entirely to be valid-I am not sure that he is keener to redress imbalances than say it "entirely as it is" as he says. I read it in record time seeing the BIG PRINT as my friend. The potentially overwhelming issue around his sister's death is very well dealt with.It is the small incidents recalled that make that.
I came away from the book thinking that perhaps Lawrence felt that he still had unfinished business and was holding back for a later book?
Regardless of that a great fast read.

In The Blood, 20 Jan 2008
This monologue of Dallaglio's career is enjoyable and gives you an insight into the world of professional rugby - from Dallaglio's perspective.

Sometimes moving and written in a conversational style (as if you were talking to the man in a bar), this is an easy book to pick up.

Recommended.



Interesting in places, but too often its very dull., 16 Jan 2008
First of all I have huge admiration for Lawrence Dallaglio and truly believe he is one of the best players to have worn the England shirt. His achievements in club and international rugby cannot be matched by many other players. To that end, I was really looking forward to this book but I have to disagree with most of the reviews on here because I found it to be pretty dull.

For a man who has spent most of his adult life playing rugby there were too few off field stories which stuck in your mind. There was far too much emphasis on individual games on what happened on the pitch. A lot of the time it felt as though I was reading a match report which would have appeared in any newspaper around the time of each game.

The chapter on his sister's tragic death is moving and you get a real sense of the shock that was felt by his whole family.

Overall though, this book was very disappointing. I have read numerous sporting autobiographies and usually at the end you feel as if you know the person a bit better. Apart from the chapter about his sister's death and how he was set up by The Sun newspaper, there was not a lot that hadn't been reported elsewhere, just not in his own words. Sadly at the end I felt he had skimmed the surface and could have offered so much more. Even behind scenes at the 2007 world cup has been well documented and Dallaglio adds nothing new here.

Another problem with the book is that it is painfully obvious that it was not written by Dallaglio himself. Hearing him speak he is very intelligent and articulate but this rarely comes across on the page.

If you want a truly in depth and fascinating autobiography then buy Martin Johnson's instead.


Quality Read, 15 Jun 2008
This book, without a doubt has been the best sporting autobiography I have read to date. It made me laugh, it gave me an insight into how England and Leicester Tigers functioned and it gave a funny account of many players.
For all England rugby fans, this is a must read. Healey has great confidence in his own ability and this is portrayed in the text. A true English legend and a book I didn't want to end.

Healey the entertainer, 25 Mar 2008
If Martin Johnston's book hasn't managed to put you off rugby biography's(Zzzzz)then this is well worth a read- essential for any rugby fan. Funny, informative, poignant in places- a true legend of the game.

Pretty much what i expected, 18 Feb 2008
I wouldn't want to say this is a bad/good book, and i wouldn't want to say whether I like/dislike Mr Healey after reading it. I think this book is an example of 'What is says on the tin'. We all know Austin has built a career on playing practical jokes and slating every other human being, and this book just goes to confirm this.

As i mentioned earlier, i wouldn't want to judge the guy purely by this book but it does appear that he has trouble accepting a slating and a practical joke from a fellow human being, even if it is at the same level of nastiness as he has played on other people. All of that said, he is still very forthright in his views on many different coaches in rugby, but i started to lose respect for his oppinions of other people the more the book went on, because you are never sure whether it is personal or objective.

Either way, the book is a bit of fun and it was an easy read, so if you fancy reading this then go ahead and you will get exactly what you expected.

Amazing read, 28 Oct 2007
This book was witty funny and a realy enjoyable read. from his witty banter with all of his team mates the ins and outs of lecester duyring his 10 year period there. a must read for any rugby fan.

An excellent autobiography, 30 Jan 2007
An excellent autobiography - certainly one of the best, if not the best, rugby autobiography that I can recall. Healey's honest,amusing and often ironic self assessment of himself during his rugby career is an enjoyable and interesting read. One to recommend to all sports fans alike.

Forging a National Consciousness through Mutual Respect, 29 Sep 2008

Playing the Enemy is a very timely book. In these days when nations are often more divided than before, Nelson Mandela's instinct to show respect, friendliness, and common purpose with those who saw him as an enemy is a beacon that lights up the potential for all people to come together to accomplish more. John Carlin has used the Rugby World Cup imaginatively to illustrate the essence of President Mandela's approach. Mr. Carlin is a wonderful story teller, and you'll feel chills as you read the many great moments he brilliantly captures in Playing the Enemy.

Leaders have always used foreign enemies to bring their purpose together. Who realized that this could be done at the level of sport rather than through war as a way to unify a country where people were deeply suspicious (even paranoid) about one another?

I was glad to see that Mr. Carlin provided lots of background about how someone imprisoned for decades became the leader of a reconstituted nation in South Africa and went on to accomplish things that not even the most optimistic would have expected. President Mandela's story is one for the ages, and this way of telling the story makes it easier to understand for those who never saw South Africa during the Apartheid regime.

Although I had long studied and worked to help change the government in South Africa from the inside and outside, the political impact of the international boycott of the South African rugby team had been lost to me. I hope those who would like to encourage governments to behave more appropriately towards their people will remember this example.

Bravo, Mr. Carlin!

Ok but holds back...., 26 Aug 2008
I remember the 2003 World Cup campaign well and Lawrence Dallaglio was one of the English heroes who played a big part in it. He was (proudly) the only player to have played every minute of every match - although there were reasons for this!

I enjoy biographies and have read several of sporting legends (Ali, Armstrong...er Tony Cascarino) but none has been that exceptional. Sadly, this is the case here too as while it has its moments, it quite workman-like although generally readable.

He came from a secure and loving family and is at pains to point this out. His parents were very supportive and they worked hard to give him the best education they could afford. He admits he did not give them a good return on their investment and cruised through school, only excelling on the rugby pitch. He tells us about the tragic loss of his sister in the Marchioness and the devastating effect it had on him then, and to this day. His mother's long and brave fight for a full public enquiry is an eye-opener in the face of indolence and opposition from the authorities, though Dallaglio admits he played little part in this.

His arrival at and career with his beloved Wasps club side is well documented. You have to admire the man for staying at the club he adored although there do not appear to have been many offers from other clubs! Sometimes, it can be a bit of a mates backslapping tome, as he tells of his love of a "pint and a yarn" with his friends but he seems to have made no enemies whatsoever on the way. If he did, he didn't tell us.....

I was also a bit disappointed in the way the News of the World "drug dealer" scandal was glossed over, Dallaglio blaming the drink entirely. As one NOTW lawyer said, being drunk does not give you an in-depth knowledge of the drugs world. If he had addressed specific allegations made in the papers, his explanations would have had more credibility. It cost him the England captaincy but he is one of those players who just wanted to play for the white shirt at all costs, and you get the impression he really meant that.

There are interesting passages on his relationship with Clive Woodward, an extremely clever and talented coach. It was a rocky ride at times but the mutual respect was there. Johnny Wilkinson comes across as a shy character who doesn't enjoy the limelight (shouldn't be such a good goal kicker then should he!)

Club fans will enjoy the accounts of battles against Leicester and the Toulose etc, whilst international fans will enjoy the World Cup and Lions accounts equally as much.

A good read for the England and Wasps rugby fan though it could have been better had the surface been scratched a bit deeper.








Disappointing, 02 Mar 2008
I am a bit amazed by some of the other reviews of this book. I am a big rugby fan and having been given this for Christmas 2007 was looking forward to insightful read of a insiders view of the 2003 rugby build up and how he really found it breaking into the senior game from the junior ranks. It reads like someone desperately trying to remember some of the past and also some of the really big games are brushed over in 1-2 pages if that. the News of the World incident receives many pages more other important events in his life, which quite frankly I would rather read about. All in all disappointing.

Unfinished Business, 06 Feb 2008
I think that Lawrence at 35 is perhaps too young to be writing My life and as an old fart myself that still applies.This is my first experience of reading a Sport autobiography so i can't compare as with some other reviewers. I do find the criticism of not opening up entirely to be valid-I am not sure that he is keener to redress imbalances than say it "entirely as it is" as he says. I read it in record time seeing the BIG PRINT as my friend. The potentially overwhelming issue around his sister's death is very well dealt with.It is the small incidents recalled that make that.
I came away from the book thinking that perhaps Lawrence felt that he still had unfinished business and was holding back for a later book?
Regardless of that a great fast read.

In The Blood, 20 Jan 2008
This monologue of Dallaglio's career is enjoyable and gives you an insight into the world of professional rugby - from Dallaglio's perspective.

Sometimes moving and written in a conversational style (as if you were talking to the man in a bar), this is an easy book to pick up.

Recommended.



Interesting in places, but too often its very dull., 16 Jan 2008
First of all I have huge admiration for Lawrence Dallaglio and truly believe he is one of the best players to have worn the England shirt. His achievements in club and international rugby cannot be matched by many other players. To that end, I was really looking forward to this book but I have to disagree with most of the reviews on here because I found it to be pretty dull.

For a man who has spent most of his adult life playing rugby there were too few off field stories which stuck in your mind. There was far too much emphasis on individual games on what happened on the pitch. A lot of the time it felt as though I was reading a match report which would have appeared in any newspaper around the time of each game.

The chapter on his sister's tragic death is moving and you get a real sense of the shock that was felt by his whole family.

Overall though, this book was very disappointing. I have read numerous sporting autobiographies and usually at the end you feel as if you know the person a bit better. Apart from the chapter about his sister's death and how he was set up by The Sun newspaper, there was not a lot that hadn't been reported elsewhere, just not in his own words. Sadly at the end I felt he had skimmed the surface and could have offered so much more. Even behind scenes at the 2007 world cup has been well documented and Dallaglio adds nothing new here.

Another problem with the book is that it is painfully obvious that it was not written by Dallaglio himself. Hearing him speak he is very intelligent and articulate but this rarely comes across on the page.

If you want a truly in depth and fascinating autobiography then buy Martin Johnson's instead.


Quality Read, 15 Jun 2008
This book, without a doubt has been the best sporting autobiography I have read to date. It made me laugh, it gave me an insight into how England and Leicester Tigers functioned and it gave a funny account of many players.
For all England rugby fans, this is a must read. Healey has great confidence in his own ability and this is portrayed in the text. A true English legend and a book I didn't want to end.

Healey the entertainer, 25 Mar 2008
If Martin Johnston's book hasn't managed to put you off rugby biography's(Zzzzz)then this is well worth a read- essential for any rugby fan. Funny, informative, poignant in places- a true legend of the game.

Pretty much what i expected, 18 Feb 2008
I wouldn't want to say this is a bad/good book, and i wouldn't want to say whether I like/dislike Mr Healey after reading it. I think this book is an example of 'What is says on the tin'. We all know Austin has built a career on playing practical jokes and slating every other human being, and this book just goes to confirm this.

As i mentioned earlier, i wouldn't want to judge the guy purely by this book but it does appear that he has trouble accepting a slating and a practical joke from a fellow human being, even if it is at the same level of nastiness as he has played on other people. All of that said, he is still very forthright in his views on many different coaches in rugby, but i started to lose respect for his oppinions of other people the more the book went on, because you are never sure whether it is personal or objective.

Either way, the book is a bit of fun and it was an easy read, so if you fancy reading this then go ahead and you will get exactly what you expected.

Amazing read, 28 Oct 2007
This book was witty funny and a realy enjoyable read. from his witty banter with all of his team mates the ins and outs of lecester duyring his 10 year period there. a must read for any rugby fan.

An excellent autobiography, 30 Jan 2007
An excellent autobiography - certainly one of the best, if not the best, rugby autobiography that I can recall. Healey's honest,amusing and often ironic self assessment of himself during his rugby career is an enjoyable and interesting read. One to recommend to all sports fans alike.

Top coaching aid, 04 Dec 2006
An excellent, book. The drills cover many aspects of the game and with a little imagination can be adapted to suited any age range and ability. Some of the drills do need to be read carefully and introduced slowly to younger players.

the best rugby drills book by far, 25 Aug 2006
As a newly qualified coach to Rugby i decided to buy several of the drill books on offer to help me through the first season.

Out of all the books i purchased only 101 Rugby Training Drills could offer me as a novice to coaching the help i needed to create exciting and worhtwhile drills.

the diagrams and explanations as well as the key helped to set up the drills and guidance in the explanation section is fantastic.

The book is that good that the club has bought the book for every coaching team in the club. what more can i say!

You've got to have it, 10 Mar 2006
I coach junior rugby and this book has developed me and the lads so much. It makes training sessions so much fun because the boys and I are experiencing something new every month.
The book doesn't go into any great detail as to the theory of each excercise, it simply lays out specific drills detailing their key benefits, with clear pictorial aids.
Get it and get it now.

It Does Exactly What It Say's On The Tin!, 16 Sep 2005
After reading this book I was inspired to improve my rugby lessons. This book provides clear instructions and the equipment needed. The skills range from the basic to the technical so your skills can develop over time.

If you are a seasoned coach or new to the game this book will suit all!!

Indispensible Coaching Aid, 25 Jun 2003
Coaching rugby places enormous demands on you to constantly provide variety to prevent players getting bored. The RFU's coaching materials are good, but will only last you a season or two before you've tried all of the drills they suggest.

This book picks up where the RFU materials stop, and the book's title is exactly what you get - an A4-sized soft-back book with 2 drills per page. They are clearly laid out - as good, if not better than the RFU - and there is sufficient description to enable you to understand quickly without the burden of too much detail. It's the kind of book you can browse over breakfast on a Sunday morning when you need inspiration before going to the training ground.

A great resource for coaches at all levels and age groups, including seniors.

Clive Woodward was at the helm when English rugby union triumphantly heaved itself from the boozy, pot-bellied mire of amateurism to the top of the professional game at the 2003 World Cup in Australia. And in Winning he makes a robust, cogent and at times brilliant argument for taking the lion's share of the credit. As sports autobiographies go this is an extraordinary book, part personal memoir and part historical revision, of course - Woodward is not backward in correcting his critics or laying bare the politics that shroud top-level sports managers. But what sets it apart is that the former England coach presents a detailed analysis of the man-management and coaching theories that underpinned the success, in what is effectively a case study in winning. To this end there is an abundance of diagrams, flow charts and 'key rules' which at first glance will have a worryingly familiar look to anyone who's ever sat through a motivational business seminar. They formed the day-to-day intellectual touchstones that were the foundation of the Woodward era, covering the 75 matches between November 1997 and that famous victory in the Telstra Stadium. And in a sporting turn-up akin to Jonny Wilkinson's last-ditch drop-goal that felled the Aussies in Sidney, Woodward takes these unpromising raw ingredients and delivers a genuinely engrossing read: a how-to manual for aspiring coaches and an unique insight for fans. The tone is occasionally bombastic - whatever the veracity of their substance, one or two of the recounted conversations ring about as true as an episode of Acorn Antiques, but somehow it doesn't get in the way. Midway through the book, there's a rather peculiar "Author's note about confidentiality" in which Woodward claims that he will never: "show any player or member of the management in any sort of bad light". Not fashionable and frankly not much fun, but arguably entirely in keeping with the Winning philosophy . And you can't argue with results, can you?--Alex Hankin

Forging a National Consciousness through Mutual Respect, 29 Sep 2008

Playing the Enemy is a very timely book. In these days when nations are often more divided than before, Nelson Mandela's instinct to show respect, friendliness, and common purpose with those who saw him as an enemy is a beacon that lights up the potential for all people to come together to accomplish more. John Carlin has used the Rugby World Cup imaginatively to illustrate the essence of President Mandela's approach. Mr. Carlin is a wonderful story teller, and you'll feel chills as you read the many great moments he brilliantly captures in Playing the Enemy.

Leaders have always used foreign enemies to bring their purpose together. Who realized that this could be done at the level of sport rather than through war as a way to unify a country where people were deeply suspicious (even paranoid) about one another?

I was glad to see that Mr. Carlin provided lots of background about how someone imprisoned for decades became the leader of a reconstituted nation in South Africa and went on to accomplish things that not even the most optimistic would have expected. President Mandela's story is one for the ages, and this way of telling the story makes it easier to understand for those who never saw South Africa during the Apartheid regime.

Although I had long studied and worked to help change the government in South Africa from the inside and outside, the political impact of the international boycott of the South African rugby team had been lost to me. I hope those who would like to encourage governments to behave more appropriately towards their people will remember this example.

Bravo, Mr. Carlin!

Ok but holds back...., 26 Aug 2008
I remember the 2003 World Cup campaign well and Lawrence Dallaglio was one of the English heroes who played a big part in it. He was (proudly) the only player to have played every minute of every match - although there were reasons for this!

I enjoy biographies and have read several of sporting legends (Ali, Armstrong...er Tony Cascarino) but none has been that exceptional. Sadly, this is the case here too as while it has its moments, it quite workman-like although generally readable.

He came from a secure and loving family and is at pains to point this out. His parents were very supportive and they worked hard to give him the best education they could afford. He admits he did not give them a good return on their investment and cruised through school, only excelling on the rugby pitch. He tells us about the tragic loss of his sister in the Marchioness and the devastating effect it had on him then, and to this day. His mother's long and brave fight for a full public enquiry is an eye-opener in the face of indolence and opposition from the authorities, though Dallaglio admits he played little part in this.

His arrival at and career with his beloved Wasps club side is well documented. You have to admire the man for staying at the club he adored although there do not appear to have been many offers from other clubs! Sometimes, it can be a bit of a mates backslapping tome, as he tells of his love of a "pint and a yarn" with his friends but he seems to have made no enemies whatsoever on the way. If he did, he didn't tell us.....

I was also a bit disappointed in the way the News of the World "drug dealer" scandal was glossed over, Dallaglio blaming the drink entirely. As one NOTW lawyer said, being drunk does not give you an in-depth knowledge of the drugs world. If he had addressed specific allegations made in the papers, his explanations would have had more credibility. It cost him the England captaincy but he is one of those players who just wanted to play for the white shirt at all costs, and you get the impression he really meant that.

There are interesting passages on his relationship with Clive Woodward, an extremely clever and talented coach. It was a rocky ride at times but the mutual respect was there. Johnny Wilkinson comes across as a shy character who doesn't enjoy the limelight (shouldn't be such a good goal kicker then should he!)

Club fans will enjoy the accounts of battles against Leicester and the Toulose etc, whilst international fans will enjoy the World Cup and Lions accounts equally as much.

A good read for the England and Wasps rugby fan though it could have been better had the surface been scratched a bit deeper.








Disappointing, 02 Mar 2008
I am a bit amazed by some of the other reviews of this book. I am a big rugby fan and having been given this for Christmas 2007 was looking forward to insightful read of a insiders view of the 2003 rugby build up and how he really found it breaking into the senior game from the junior ranks. It reads like someone desperately trying to remember some of the past and also some of the really big games are brushed over in 1-2 pages if that. the News of the World incident receives many pages more other important events in his life, which quite frankly I would rather read about. All in all disappointing.

Unfinished Business, 06 Feb 2008
I think that Lawrence at 35 is perhaps too young to be writing My life and as an old fart myself that still applies.This is my first experience of reading a Sport autobiography so i can't compare as with some other reviewers. I do find the criticism of not opening up entirely to be valid-I am not sure that he is keener to redress imbalances than say it "entirely as it is" as he says. I read it in record time seeing the BIG PRINT as my friend. The potentially overwhelming issue around his sister's death is very well dealt with.It is the small incidents recalled that make that.
I came away from the book thinking that perhaps Lawrence felt that he still had unfinished business and was holding back for a later book?
Regardless of that a great fast read.

In The Blood, 20 Jan 2008
This monologue of Dallaglio's career is enjoyable and gives you an insight into the world of professional rugby - from Dallaglio's perspective.

Sometimes moving and written in a conversational style (as if you were talking to the man in a bar), this is an easy book to pick up.

Recommended.



Interesting in places, but too often its very dull., 16 Jan 2008
First of all I have huge admiration for Lawrence Dallaglio and truly believe he is one of the best players to have worn the England shirt. His achievements in club and international rugby cannot be matched by many other players. To that end, I was really looking forward to this book but I have to disagree with most of the reviews on here because I found it to be pretty dull.

For a man who has spent most of his adult life playing rugby there were too few off field stories which stuck in your mind. There was far too much emphasis on individual games on what happened on the pitch. A lot of the time it felt as though I was reading a match report which would have appeared in any newspaper around the time of each game.

The chapter on his sister's tragic death is moving and you get a real sense of the shock that was felt by his whole family.

Overall though, this book was very disappointing. I have read numerous sporting autobiographies and usually at the end you feel as if you know the person a bit better. Apart from the chapter about his sister's death and how he was set up by The Sun newspaper, there was not a lot that hadn't been reported elsewhere, just not in his own words. Sadly at the end I felt he had skimmed the surface and could have offered so much more. Even behind scenes at the 2007 world cup has been well documented and Dallaglio adds nothing new here.

Another problem with the book is that it is painfully obvious that it was not written by Dallaglio himself. Hearing him speak he is very intelligent and articulate but this rarely comes across on the page.

If you want a truly in depth and fascinating autobiography then buy Martin Johnson's instead.


Quality Read, 15 Jun 2008
This book, without a doubt has been the best sporting autobiography I have read to date. It made me laugh, it gave me an insight into how England and Leicester Tigers functioned and it gave a funny account of many players.
For all England rugby fans, this is a must read. Healey has great confidence in his own ability and this is portrayed in the text. A true English legend and a book I didn't want to end.

Healey the entertainer, 25 Mar 2008
If Martin Johnston's book hasn't managed to put you off rugby biography's(Zzzzz)then this is well worth a read- essential for any rugby fan. Funny, informative, poignant in places- a true legend of the game.

Pretty much what i expected, 18 Feb 2008
I wouldn't want to say this is a bad/good book, and i wouldn't want to say whether I like/dislike Mr Healey after reading it. I think this book is an example of 'What is says on the tin'. We all know Austin has built a career on playing practical jokes and slating every other human being, and this book just goes to confirm this.

As i mentioned earlier, i wouldn't want to judge the guy purely by this book but it does appear that he has trouble accepting a slating and a practical joke from a fellow human being, even if it is at the same level of nastiness as he has played on other people. All of that said, he is still very forthright in his views on many different coaches in rugby, but i started to lose respect for his oppinions of other people the more the book went on, because you are never sure whether it is personal or objective.

Either way, the book is a bit of fun and it was an easy read, so if you fancy reading this then go ahead and you will get exactly what you expected.

Amazing read, 28 Oct 2007
This book was witty funny and a realy enjoyable read. from his witty banter with all of his team mates the ins and outs of lecester duyring his 10 year period there. a must read for any rugby fan.

An excellent autobiography, 30 Jan 2007
An excellent autobiography - certainly one of the best, if not the best, rugby autobiography that I can recall. Healey's honest,amusing and often ironic self assessment of himself during his rugby career is an enjoyable and interesting read. One to recommend to all sports fans alike.

Top coaching aid, 04 Dec 2006
An excellent, book. The drills cover many aspects of the game and with a little imagination can be adapted to suited any age range and ability. Some of the drills do need to be read carefully and introduced slowly to younger players.

the best rugby drills book by far, 25 Aug 2006
As a newly qualified coach to Rugby i decided to buy several of the drill books on offer to help me through the first season.

Out of all the books i purchased only 101 Rugby Training Drills could offer me as a novice to coaching the help i needed to create exciting and worhtwhile drills.

the diagrams and explanations as well as the key helped to set up the drills and guidance in the explanation section is fantastic.

The book is that good that the club has bought the book for every coaching team in the club. what more can i say!

You've got to have it, 10 Mar 2006
I coach junior rugby and this book has developed me and the lads so much. It makes training sessions so much fun because the boys and I are experiencing something new every month.
The book doesn't go into any great detail as to the theory of each excercise, it simply lays out specific drills detailing their key benefits, with clear pictorial aids.
Get it and get it now.

It Does Exactly What It Say's On The Tin!, 16 Sep 2005
After reading this book I was inspired to improve my rugby lessons. This book provides clear instructions and the equipment needed. The skills range from the basic to the technical so your skills can develop over time.

If you are a seasoned coach or new to the game this book will suit all!!

Indispensible Coaching Aid, 25 Jun 2003
Coaching rugby places enormous demands on you to constantly provide variety to prevent players getting bored. The RFU's coaching materials are good, but will only last you a season or two before you've tried all of the drills they suggest.

This book picks up where the RFU materials stop, and the book's title is exactly what you get - an A4-sized soft-back book with 2 drills per page. They are clearly laid out - as good, if not better than the RFU - and there is sufficient description to enable you to understand quickly without the burden of too much detail. It's the kind of book you can browse over breakfast on a Sunday morning when you need inspiration before going to the training ground.

A great resource for coaches at all levels and age groups, including seniors.

Building winning, 01 May 2008
I started this book expecting the gossip, half baked platitudes of the world champions' coach and the mantra of 'my family has always been the most important etc'. And instead, I got honest, considered thoughts of a coach who struggled with his business, his bosses and his team in his attempts to transform the English rugby team. His loyalty to all means he doesn't dish the dirt and he is only ever critical of his own performance. However, where the book does score big time; Woodward outlines the techniques he employed to change the staid English team. For a sports coach, he was ahead of his time in his willingness to examine new ideas and apply them to team performance. This weaving of the introduction of techniques and the chronology towards victory is well executed and very readable. My only niggle with the book is that I would have liked to have known what effect the techniques had on the team dynamic and may be even what did he try and abandon ? But, having said all that; you will get a good view of the coach's role in a change environment, some excellent team ideas ( for business or sport ) and a cracking story of a famous English victory.

This is not a review of the Lyons tour, 02 Dec 2006
Anyone who has built a high performing team will know it does not happen overnight. This is an insight into the building of the winning team that led to a national celebration using skills that are transferable into the business world. If you want to know about the Lyons tour buy another book and learn what happens when you can't apply the right techniques to a team.

Sports Book & Management Book - Bargain!, 04 Sep 2006
I was lucky enough to review a signed copy of this book from Clive himself as he did a speech at our annual corporate event.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book from the perspective of both a sports and management book.

I find it interesting the most recent reviews giving the book a low score purely on the performance of the Lions tour. I think anyone reading the book would have picked up is that to be successful in either business or sports management takes time. Something that on a Lions tour you do not have.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and a book that I keep in my office and review on a regular basis.

Buy It!



Bad for Rugby, 31 Aug 2006
My personal opinion is that he was bad for rugby, confirmed by the Lions tour. So I would not be buying his book.

Worth the read, 26 Jan 2006
I just finished reading this book. The content of the book should not be judged by Clive's performance on the Lions tour.
I would rate this book as very good and worth a read. There are many ideas there that you can pick up and implement in whatever you are doing.

Forging a National Consciousness through Mutual Respect, 29 Sep 2008

Playing the Enemy is a very timely book. In these days when nations are often more divided than before, Nelson Mandela's instinct to show respect, friendliness, and common purpose with those who saw him as an enemy is a beacon that lights up the potential for all people to come together to accomplish more. John Carlin has used the Rugby World Cup imaginatively to illustrate the essence of President Mandela's approach. Mr. Carlin is a wonderful story teller, and you'll feel chills as you read the many great moments he brilliantly captures in Playing the Enemy.

Leaders have always used foreign enemies to bring their purpose together. Who realized that this could be done at the level of sport rather than through war as a way to unify a country where people were deeply suspicious (even paranoid) about one another?

I was glad to see that Mr. Carlin provided lots of background about how someone imprisoned for decades became the leader of a reconstituted nation in South Africa and went on to accomplish things that not even the most optimistic would have expected. President Mandela's story is one for the ages, and this way of telling the story makes it easier to understand for those who never saw South Africa during the Apartheid regime.

Although I had long studied and worked to help change the government in South Africa from the inside and outside, the political impact of the international boycott of the South African rugby team had been lost to me. I hope those who would like to encourage governments to behave more appropriately towards their people will remember this example.

Bravo, Mr. Carlin!

Ok but holds back...., 26 Aug 2008
I remember the 2003 World Cup campaign well and Lawrence Dallaglio was one of the English heroes who played a big part in it. He was (proudly) the only player to have played every minute of every match - although there were reasons for this!

I enjoy biographies and have read several of sporting legends (Ali, Armstrong...er Tony Cascarino) but none has been that exceptional. Sadly, this is the case here too as while it has its moments, it quite workman-like although generally readable.

He came from a secure and loving family and is at pains to point this out. His parents were very supportive and they worked hard to give him the best education they could afford. He admits he did not give them a good return on their investment and cruised through school, only excelling on the rugby pitch. He tells us about the tragic loss of his sister in the Marchioness and the devastating effect it had on him then, and to this day. His mother's long and brave fight for a full public enquiry is an eye-opener in the face of indolence and opposition from the authorities, though Dallaglio admits he played little part in this.

His arrival at and career with his beloved Wasps club side is well documented. You have to admire the man for staying at the club he adored although there do not appear to have been many offers from other clubs! Sometimes, it can be a bit of a mates backslapping tome, as he tells of his love of a "pint and a yarn" with his friends but he seems to have made no enemies whatsoever on the way. If he did, he didn't tell us.....

I was also a bit disappointed in the way the News of the World "drug dealer" scandal was glossed over, Dallaglio blaming the drink entirely. As one NOTW lawyer said, being drunk does not give you an in-depth knowledge of the drugs world. If he had addressed specific allegations made in the papers, his explanations would have had more credibility. It cost him the England captaincy but he is one of those players who just wanted to play for the white shirt at all costs, and you get the impression he really meant that.

There are interesting passages on his relationship with Clive Woodward, an extremely clever and talented coach. It was a rocky ride at times but the mutual respect was there. Johnny Wilkinson comes across as a shy character who doesn't enjoy the limelight (shouldn't be such a good goal kicker then should he!)

Club fans will enjoy the accounts of battles against Leicester and the Toulose etc, whilst international fans will enjoy the World Cup and Lions accounts equally as much.

A good read for the England and Wasps rugby fan though it could have been better had the surface been scratched a bit deeper.








Disappointing, 02 Mar 2008
I am a bit amazed by some of the other reviews of this book. I am a big rugby fan and having been given this for Christmas 2007 was looking forward to insightful read of a insiders view of the 2003 rugby build up and how he really found it breaking into the senior game from the junior ranks. It reads like someone desperately trying to remember some of the past and also some of the really big games are brushed over in 1-2 pages if that. the News of the World incident receives many pages more other important events in his life, which quite frankly I would rather read about. All in all disappointing.

Unfinished Business, 06 Feb 2008
I think that Lawrence at 35 is perhaps too young to be writing My life and as an old fart myself that still applies.This is my first experience of reading a Sport autobiography so i can't compare as with some other reviewers. I do find the criticism of not opening up entirely to be valid-I am not sure that he is keener to redress imbalances than say it "entirely as it is" as he says. I read it in record time seeing the BIG PRINT as my friend. The potentially overwhelming issue around his sister's death is very well dealt with.It is the small incidents recalled that make that.
I came away from the book thinking that perhaps Lawrence felt that he still had unfinished business and was holding back for a later book?
Regardless of that a great fast read.

In The Blood, 20 Jan 2008
This monologue of Dallaglio's career is enjoyable and gives you an insight into the world of professional rugby - from Dallaglio's perspective.

Sometimes moving and written in a conversational style (as if you were talking to the man in a bar), this is an easy book to pick up.

Recommended.



Interesting in places, but too often its very dull., 16 Jan 2008
First of all I have huge admiration for Lawrence Dallaglio and truly believe he is one of the best players to have worn the England shirt. His achievements in club and international rugby cannot be matched by many other players. To that end, I was really looking forward to this book but I have to disagree with most of the reviews on here because I found it to be pretty dull.

For a man who has spent most of his adult life playing rugby there were too few off field stories which stuck in your mind. There was far too much emphasis on individual games on what happened on the pitch. A lot of the time it felt as though I was reading a match report which would have appeared in any newspaper around the time of each game.

The chapter on his sister's tragic death is moving and you get a real sense of the shock that was felt by his whole family.

Overall though, this book was very disappointing. I have read numerous sporting autobiographies and usually at the end you feel as if you know the person a bit better. Apart from the chapter about his sister's death and how he was set up by The Sun newspaper, there was not a lot that hadn't been reported elsewhere, just not in his own words. Sadly at the end I felt he had skimmed the surface and could have offered so much more. Even behind scenes at the 2007 world cup has been well documented and Dallaglio adds nothing new here.

Another problem with the book is that it is painfully obvious that it was not written by Dallaglio himself. Hearing him speak he is very intelligent and articulate but this rarely comes across on the page.

If you want a truly in depth and fascinating autobiography then buy Martin Johnson's instead.


Quality Read, 15 Jun 2008
This book, without a doubt has been the best sporting autobiography I have read to date. It made me laugh, it gave me an insight into how England and Leicester Tigers functioned and it gave a funny account of many players.
For all England rugby fans, this is a must read. Healey has great confidence in his own ability and this is portrayed in the text. A true English legend and a book I didn't want to end.

Healey the entertainer, 25 Mar 2008
If Martin Johnston's book hasn't managed to put you off rugby biography's(Zzzzz)then this is well worth a read- essential for any rugby fan. Funny, informative, poignant in places- a true legend of the game.

Pretty much what i expected, 18 Feb 2008
I wouldn't want to say this is a bad/good book, and i wouldn't want to say whether I like/dislike Mr Healey after reading it. I think this book is an example of 'What is says on the tin'. We all know Austin has built a career on playing practical jokes and slating every other human being, and this book just goes to confirm this.

As i mentioned earlier, i wouldn't want to judge the guy purely by this book but it does appear that he has trouble accepting a slating and a practical joke from a fellow human being, even if it is at the same level of nastiness as he has played on other people. All of that said, he is still very forthright in his views on many different coaches in rugby, but i started to lose respect for his oppinions of other people the more the book went on, because you are never sure whether it is personal or objective.

Either way, the book is a bit of fun and it was an easy read, so if you fancy reading this then go ahead and you will get exactly what you expected.

Amazing read, 28 Oct 2007
This book was witty funny and a realy enjoyable read. from his witty banter with all of his team mates the ins and outs of lecester duyring his 10 year period there. a must read for any rugby fan.

An excellent autobiography, 30 Jan 2007
An excellent autobiography - certainly one of the best, if not the best, rugby autobiography that I can recall. Healey's honest,amusing and often ironic self assessment of himself during his rugby career is an enjoyable and interesting read. One to recommend to all sports fans alike.

Top coaching aid, 04 Dec 2006
An excellent, book. The drills cover many aspects of the game and with a little imagination can be adapted to suited any age range and ability. Some of the drills do need to be read carefully and introduced slowly to younger players.

the best rugby drills book by far, 25 Aug 2006
As a newly qualified coach to Rugby i decided to buy several of the drill books on offer to help me through the first season.

Out of all the books i purchased only 101 Rugby Training Drills could offer me as a novice to coaching the help i needed to create exciting and worhtwhile drills.

the diagrams and explanations as well as the key helped to set up the drills and guidance in the explanation section is fantastic.

The book is that good that the club has bought the book for every coaching team in the club. what more can i say!

You've got to have it, 10 Mar 2006
I coach junior rugby and this book has developed me and the lads so much. It makes training sessions so much fun because the boys and I are experiencing something new every month.
The book doesn't go into any great detail as to the theory of each excercise, it simply lays out specific drills detailing their key benefits, with clear pictorial aids.
Get it and get it now.

It Does Exactly What It Say's On The Tin!, 16 Sep 2005
After reading this book I was inspired to improve my rugby lessons. This book provides clear instructions and the equipment needed. The skills range from the basic to the technical so your skills can develop over time.

If you are a seasoned coach or new to the game this book will suit all!!

Indispensible Coaching Aid, 25 Jun 2003
Coaching rugby places enormous demands on you to constantly provide variety to prevent players getting bored. The RFU's coaching materials are good, but will only last you a season or two before you've tried all of the drills they suggest.

This book picks up where the RFU materials stop, and the book's title is exactly what you get - an A4-sized soft-back book with 2 drills per page. They are clearly laid out - as good, if not better than the RFU - and there is sufficient description to enable you to understand quickly without the burden of too much detail. It's the kind of book you can browse over breakfast on a Sunday morning when you need inspiration before going to the training ground.

A great resource for coaches at all levels and age groups, including seniors.

Building winning, 01 May 2008
I started this book expecting the gossip, half baked platitudes of the world champions' coach and the mantra of 'my family has always been the most important etc'. And instead, I got honest, considered thoughts of a coach who struggled with his business, his bosses and his team in his attempts to transform the English rugby team. His loyalty to all means he doesn't dish the dirt and he is only ever critical of his own performance. However, where the book does score big time; Woodward outlines the techniques he employed to change the staid English team. For a sports coach, he was ahead of his time in his willingness to examine new ideas and apply them to team performance. This weaving of the introduction of techniques and the chronology towards victory is well executed and very readable. My only niggle with the book is that I would have liked to have known what effect the techniques had on the team dynamic and may be even what did he try and abandon ? But, having said all that; you will get a good view of the coach's role in a change environment, some excellent team ideas ( for business or sport ) and a cracking story of a famous English victory.

This is not a review of the Lyons tour, 02 Dec 2006
Anyone who has built a high performing team will know it does not happen overnight. This is an insight into the building of the winning team that led to a national celebration using skills that are transferable into the business world. If you want to know about the Lyons tour buy another book and learn what happens when you can't apply the right techniques to a team.

Sports Book & Management Book - Bargain!, 04 Sep 2006
I was lucky enough to review a signed copy of this book from Clive himself as he did a speech at our annual corporate event.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book from the perspective of both a sports and management book.

I find it interesting the most recent reviews giving the book a low score purely on the performance of the Lions tour. I think anyone reading the book would have picked up is that to be successful in either business or sports management takes time. Something that on a Lions tour you do not have.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and a book that I keep in my office and review on a regular basis.

Buy It!



Bad for Rugby, 31 Aug 2006
My personal opinion is that he was bad for rugby, confirmed by the Lions tour. So I would not be buying his book.

Worth the read, 26 Jan 2006
I just finished reading this book. The content of the book should not be judged by Clive's performance on the Lions tour.
I would rate this book as very good and worth a read. There are many ideas there that you can pick up and implement in whatever you are doing.

A different type of book, 05 Oct 2008
This is well worth a read by anyone who fears that their club is going down the pan.
Forget any preconceptions about the club or the alledged activities of the author as the main thrust of this book is how a club can be run into the ground and the motives behind such events from both sides of the fence.
This is a revealing and honest look at the Sam H years at Ninian Park and how so many people were drawn into a dream that almost became the ultimate nightmare for Cardiff supporters.
I would recomend this book highly if only because it departs from the normal supporters tales.

An interesting read of my Football club, 21 Sep 2008
Well done to all who contributed to this effort,it gives an insight into how our club was being run by Sam.Thanks for letting us ordinary fans inside the rooms of Ninian Park.


Dreams, 07 Aug 2008
For anyone with even a remote interest in Cardiff City football club, Sam Hammam, or even the machinations of club-level football politics in general, this book is compulsory reading.

As a Cardiff City fan it came as no great surprise that the book was interesting. What did surprise me was that it is also entertaining. It is well-structured and well-written. I don't mean well-written in the purist sense - a masterpiece in English literature it certainly ain't. But that's the point - it is a book written by fans in the style of the contributor, which makes it all the more compelling as a story told straight from the heart.

As far as a wider audience is concerned, there may not be enough of interest here to attract those beyond the group mentioned in my introduction (I'll pass it on to one and get back to you!). I suspect it may come across as too parochial.

Also, for those that may have been put off by any perceived 'baggage' surrounding the book (hinted at by the headhunters tag and the ill-chosen cover) I suspect that reading the book may do more to confirm their misgivings than to allay them.

But, taking the book purely for what it is, I would consider this a very worthwhile project which certainly exceeded my expectations.



Joff , 28 Jul 2008
I fantastic read about issues that go on within a professional football club in the U.K.

A must for any sports fan, as the contents cover a wide range of topics.

geokillie, 19 Jul 2008
great book for anyone whos club has had the same plight as cardiff,from the bitter boardroom who were quite happy to
run down a proud club with tradition, to the white knight who promised so much
the previous review states that its essential for any cardiff fans but to be honest its about every team outside the premiership or in my case kilmarnock fc
anybody who reads this book will nod in agreement to the same problems your own club has went through.

Forging a National Consciousness through Mutual Respect, 29 Sep 2008

Playing the Enemy is a very timely book. In these days when nations are often more divided than before, Nelson Mandela's instinct to show respect, friendliness, and common purpose with those who saw him as an enemy is a beacon that lights up the potential for all people to come together to accomplish more. John Carlin has used the Rugby World Cup imaginatively to illustrate the essence of President Mandela's approach. Mr. Carlin is a wonderful story teller, and you'll feel chills as you read the many great moments he brilliantly captures in Playing the Enemy.

Leaders have always used foreign enemies to bring their purpose together. Who realized that this could be done at the level of sport rather than through war as a way to unify a country where people were deeply suspicious (even paranoid) about one another?

I was glad to see that Mr. Carlin provided lots of background about how someone imprisoned for decades became the leader of a reconstituted nation in South Africa and went on to accomplish things that not even the most optimistic would have expected. President Mandela's story is one for the ages, and this way of telling the story makes it easier to understand for those who never saw South Africa during the Apartheid regime.

Although I had long studied and worked to help change the government in South Africa from the inside and outside, the political impact of the international boycott of the South African rugby team had been lost to me. I hope those who would like to encourage governments to behave more appropriately towards their people will remember this example.

Bravo, Mr. Carlin!

Ok but holds back...., 26 Aug 2008
I remember the 2003 World Cup campaign well and Lawrence Dallaglio was one of the English heroes who played a big part in it. He was (proudly) the only player to have played every minute of every match - although there were reasons for this!

I enjoy biographies and have read several of sporting legends (Ali, Armstrong...er Tony Cascarino) but none has been that exceptional. Sadly, this is the case here too as while it has its moments, it quite workman-like although generally readable.

He came from a secure and loving family and is at pains to point this out. His parents were very supportive and they worked hard to give him the best education they could afford. He admits he did not give them a good return on their investment and cruised through school, only excelling on the rugby pitch. He tells us about the tragic loss of his sister in the Marchioness and the devastating effect it had on him then, and to this day. His mother's long and brave fight for a full public enquiry is an eye-opener in the face of indolence and opposition from the authorities, though Dallaglio admits he played little part in this.

His arrival at and career with his beloved Wasps club side is well documented. You have to admire the man for staying at the club he adored although there do not appear to have been many offers from other clubs! Sometimes, it can be a bit of a mates backslapping tome, as he tells of his love of a "pint and a yarn" with his friends but he seems to have made no enemies whatsoever on the way. If he did, he didn't tell us.....

I was also a bit disappointed in the way the News of the World "drug dealer" scandal was glossed over, Dallaglio blaming the drink entirely. As one NOTW lawyer said, being drunk does not give you an in-depth knowledge of the drugs world. If he had addressed specific allegations made in the papers, his explanations would have had more credibility. It cost him the England captaincy but he is one of those players who just wanted to play for the white shirt at all costs, and you get the impression he really meant that.

There are interesting passages on his relationship with Clive Woodward, an extremely clever and talented coach. It was a rocky ride at times but the mutual respect was there. Johnny Wilkinson comes across as a shy character who doesn't enjoy the limelight (shouldn't be such a good goal kicker then should he!)

Club fans will enjoy the accounts of battles against Leicester and the Toulose etc, whilst international fans will enjoy the World Cup and Lions accounts equally as much.

A good read for the England and Wasps rugby fan though it could have been better had the surface been scratched a bit deeper.








Disappointing, 02 Mar 2008
I am a bit amazed by some of the other reviews of this book. I am a big rugby fan and having been given this for Christmas 2007 was looking forward to insightful read of a insiders view of the 2003 rugby build up and how he really found it breaking into the senior game from the junior ranks. It reads like someone desperately trying to remember some of the past and also some of the really big games are brushed over in 1-2 pages if that. the News of the World incident receives many pages more other important events in his life, which quite frankly I would rather read about. All in all disappointing.

Unfinished Business, 06 Feb 2008
I think that Lawrence at 35 is perhaps too young to be writing My life and as an old fart myself that still applies.This is my first experience of reading a Sport autobiography so i can't compare as with some other reviewers. I do find the criticism of not opening up entirely to be valid-I am not sure that he is keener to redress imbalances than say it "entirely as it is" as he says. I read it in record time seeing the BIG PRINT as my friend. The potentially overwhelming issue around his sister's death is very well dealt with.It is the small incidents recalled that make that.
I came away from the book thinking that perhaps Lawrence felt that he still had unfinished business and was holding back for a later book?
Regardless of that a great fast read.

In The Blood, 20 Jan 2008
This monologue of Dallaglio's career is enjoyable and gives you an insight into the world of professional rugby - from Dallaglio's perspective.

Sometimes moving and written in a conversational style (as if you were talking to the man in a bar), this is an easy book to pick up.

Recommended.



Interesting in places, but too often its very dull., 16 Jan 2008
First of all I have huge admiration for Lawrence Dallaglio and truly believe he is one of the best players to have worn the England shirt. His achievements in club and international rugby cannot be matched by many other players. To that end, I was really looking forward to this book but I have to disagree with most of the reviews on here because I found it to be pretty dull.

For a man who has spent most of his adult life playing rugby there were too few off field stories which stuck in your mind. There was far too much emphasis on individual games on what happened on the pitch. A lot of the time it felt as though I was reading a match report which would have appeared in any newspaper around the time of each game.

The chapter on his sister's tragic death is moving and you get a real sense of the shock that was felt by his whole family.

Overall though, this book was very disappointing. I have read numerous sporting autobiographies and usually at the end you feel as if you know the person a bit better. Apart from the chapter about his sister's death and how he was set up by The Sun newspaper, there was not a lot that hadn't been reported elsewhere, just not in his own words. Sadly at the end I felt he had skimmed the surface and could have offered so much more. Even behind scenes at the 2007 world cup has been well documented and Dallaglio adds nothing new here.

Another problem with the book is that it is painfully obvious that it was not written by Dallaglio himself. Hearing him speak he is very intelligent and articulate but this rarely comes across on the page.

If you want a truly in depth and fascinating autobiography then buy Martin Johnson's instead.


Quality Read, 15 Jun 2008
This book, without a doubt has been the best sporting autobiography I have read to date. It made me laugh, it gave me an insight into how England and Leicester Tigers functioned and it gave a funny account of many players.
For all England rugby fans, this is a must read. Healey has great confidence in his own ability and this is portrayed in the text. A true English legend and a book I didn't want to end.

Healey the entertainer, 25 Mar 2008
If Martin Johnston's book hasn't managed to put you off rugby biography's(Zzzzz)then this is well worth a read- essential for any rugby fan. Funny, informative, poignant in places- a true legend of the game.

Pretty much what i expected, 18 Feb 2008
I wouldn't want to say this is a bad/good book, and i wouldn't want to say whether I like/dislike Mr Healey after reading it. I think this book is an example of 'What is says on the tin'. We all know Austin has built a career on playing practical jokes and slating every other human being, and this book just goes to confirm this.

As i mentioned earlier, i wouldn't want to judge the guy purely by this book but it does appear that he has trouble accepting a slating and a practical joke from a fellow human being, even if it is at the same level of nastiness as he has played on other people. All of that said, he is still very forthright in his views on many different coaches in rugby, but i started to lose respect for his oppinions of other people the more the book went on, because you are never sure whether it is personal or objective.

Either way, the book is a bit of fun and it was an easy read, so if you fancy reading this then go ahead and you will get exactly what you expected.

Amazing read, 28 Oct 2007
This book was witty funny and a realy enjoyable read. from his witty banter with all of his team mates the ins and outs of lecester duyring his 10 year period there. a must read for any rugby fan.

An excellent autobiography, 30 Jan 2007
An excellent autobiography - certainly one of the best, if not the best, rugby autobiography that I can recall. Healey's honest,amusing and often ironic self assessment of himself during his rugby career is an enjoyable and interesting read. One to recommend to all sports fans alike.

Top coaching aid, 04 Dec 2006
An excellent, book. The drills cover many aspects of the game and with a little imagination can be adapted to suited any age range and ability. Some of the drills do need to be read carefully and introduced slowly to younger players.

the best rugby drills book by far, 25 Aug 2006
As a newly qualified coach to Rugby i decided to buy several of the drill books on offer to help me through the first season.

Out of all the books i purchased only 101 Rugby Training Drills could offer me as a novice to coaching the help i needed to create exciting and worhtwhile drills.

the diagrams and explanations as well as the key helped to set up the drills and guidance in the explanation section is fantastic.

The book is that good that the club has bought the book for every coaching team in the club. what more can i say!

You've got to have it, 10 Mar 2006
I coach junior rugby and this book has developed me and the lads so much. It makes training sessions so much fun because the boys and I are experiencing something new every month.
The book doesn't go into any great detail as to the theory of each excercise, it simply lays out specific drills detailing their key benefits, with clear pictorial aids.
Get it and get it now.

It Does Exactly What It Say's On The Tin!, 16 Sep 2005
After reading this book I was inspired to improve my rugby lessons. This book provides clear instructions and the equipment needed. The skills range from the basic to the technical so your skills can develop over time.

If you are a seasoned coach or new to the game this book will suit all!!

Indispensible Coaching Aid, 25 Jun 2003
Coaching rugby places enormous demands on you to constantly provide variety to prevent players getting bored. The RFU's coaching materials are good, but will only last you a season or two before you've tried all of the drills they suggest.

This book picks up where the RFU materials stop, and the book's title is exactly what you get - an A4-sized soft-back book with 2 drills per page. They are clearly laid out - as good, if not better than the RFU - and there is sufficient description to enable you to understand quickly without the burden of too much detail. It's the kind of book you can browse over breakfast on a Sunday morning when you need inspiration before going to the training ground.

A great resource for coaches at all levels and age groups, including seniors.

Building winning, 01 May 2008
I started this book expecting the gossip, half baked platitudes of the world champions' coach and the mantra of 'my family has always been the most important etc'. And instead, I got honest, considered thoughts of a coach who struggled with his business, his bosses and his team in his attempts to transform the English rugby team. His loyalty to all means he doesn't dish the dirt and he is only ever critical of his own performance. However, where the book does score big time; Woodward outlines the techniques he employed to change the staid English team. For a sports coach, he was ahead of his time in his willingness to examine new ideas and apply them to team performance. This weaving of the introduction of techniques and the chronology towards victory is well executed and very readable. My only niggle with the book is that I would have liked to have known what effect the techniques had on the team dynamic and may be even what did he try and abandon ? But, having said all